Breathe (Book Two) (UNDERCONSTRUCTION--100 pages lost)

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

...A match to a cigarette... ...a sleeping soul... ...inhale... For three days, Riverdane Wyldechylde sat, unmoving, staring at the ghost of his wife, Camille, laying in the oversized bed of Innoruuk, a soul without a living body, perpetually locked in unnatural slumber...for three days he had received no audience, eaten no food, sipped from no cup....nor did he need to. After the defeat of his father Innoruuk, River had achieved godhood. He, by bastard bloodrite, was the new Prince of Hate. Outside the chamber doors, what passed as life in Hate went on. Often there was a quiet knock on his door, but River ignored these. Until today. This knocking was more like pounding, with a frantic urgency to it. "Come in." River said, eyes not leaving Camille on the bed. The door opened, and the voice of one of Hate's Elite, the damned dark elven souls who had served Innoruuk, cut through the once silent chamber. "Your wickedness, Hate is under siege." "Who has come?" River asked. Hate was ALWAYS under siege. "The Walkers, sire." Ahhh, Walkers. Must be Elyohim again. He was always coming up here in search of his last piece of his epic. Or maybe Mildane. Both rangers had been haunted by that rare gem since they had begun their epics. Both were friends. "Find me the Master of Spite and the Mistress of Scorn please." The Elite stood there blinking in surprise at him. It truly looked lost. "What's the matter?" River asked, when it became apparent the Elite didn't know how to proceed. "Well, sire," the Elite stammered. "The Master and Mistress are both in, but I didn't understand 'please'." He took a cautionary step forward. "Are you ill, my Lord?" Riverdane sighed. "Get them now." "As you wish." And with that the Elite was gone. Several moments later, another knock, to be ushered in by River. The Elite opened the door and stepped to the side. Through the door first came a woman with a body that would make a grown man cry, and a face that would make a grown man scream. Maggots wriggled in and out of the decomposing skin on the zombie woman's face. Her breath was a hiss of leaking gassing. The Mistress of Scorn. Behind her, pushing his bulk through the doorway, came the Master of Spite. A huge black obsidian juggurnaut, his features seemed cut into the black living stone he was created from. With two thunderous footsteps he took his place in the room. "You two." River addressed them, trying to look at Spite rather than become ill looking at the Mistress. "Do you have your Shattered Emeralds of Corruption?" Spite nodded silently at him. "Yesssss, my Lord." Scorn hissed quietly. River turned his attention to the Elite. "Where are Walkers now?" "They are travelling across the north wall, sire. I believe they are headed to our southwest corner." "Good." He turned his attention back to the two he summoned. "That gives you two time." "What would you have us do, my Lord?" Spite asked, his voice a deep echoing bass. "Well, I want you both to get to southwest corner as quickly as you can, cutting through the city and...." "Yesssssss." Scorn said happily, eyesockets lighting with fire dancing in empty holes. "....and take your emeralds and leave them in a neat little pile and then return to me." River finished. If the Mistress could blink with no eyes, she would have. "Don't you mean surprise them and rip them apart, sire?" Spite asked, nodding his head as if to encourage River to agree. "No, I mean as I said." River replied, shooing them away. "Now go, and if you disobey a word I've said, I'll put you in a small locked room with the Evangelist for three days until you lose what passes for your mind with his chatter." "Um, yes sire." Spite said, pulling a dumbfounded Mistress out of the room with him. River turned back to Camille, the problem with how to wake her replacing the thoughts of Walkers in his new home. The Elite stood staring at River's back. "You know," the Elite said. "You're supposed to be one of the BAD guys." And with that, the Elite turned rather indignantly and left the room. River stubbed out the cigarette, eyes on his sleeping wife. He had to find a way to wake her, and to escape his new job. Eternity could be a long long time. <img src="http://www.lby3.com/eq/leopa/misc/riverdane_animatedbanner.gif" style="border:0;"/>
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Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

"That..." Pedi said, grabbing the tray of cookies from the table. "...would be for me."

And up the stairs she went.

The banging continued till River feared the walls would come down. And the sound of a large crowd forming outside.

"It's alright, it's alright!" Pedi's voice carried clearly to them in the basement. "This ogre is trained and on a special job for Whizbang. Your children are safe. Go back to your business now."

"Ogre?" Riverdane asked Whizbang with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't have the slightest clue of what that woman of mine is talking about." Whizbang said with a shrug.

Then Pedi's voice again, as the murmur of the crowd dwindled and faded away.

"Bad ogre! How many times have I told you, come at night?" A long sigh from her. "Here drink this up and come in before the townfolk stick you with pitchforks."

A crunching sound and the tinkle of breaking glass.

"Drink! Not eat. You...oh never mind. You are shrunk now, come in come in....watch your head."

"Sorry Miz Pedi." her visitor said. "But me so hungry. Me knew today Cookie Day, and no snacks from Miz Cami since she all cold and dead at guild house." And then the sound of cookies being devoured.

"Ah." Whizbang said, looking at River. "Not just any 'ogga'. YOUR ogga."

"You have a pet ogre?" Vven said in surprise.

"Not exactly." River began.

Suddenly the loud munching stopped, and the sound of sniffing filled the air.

"Me nose smell something not smelled in long time." her visitor said.

"Oh?" Pedi asked innocently. The sound of the basement door quietly shutting was barely audible.

"Ya ya." the ogre said. "Me smell..." Sniff. "Me smell..."

And suddenly the sound of heavy footsteps, a lamp crashing to the ground, a chair tipping back, and the basement door swinging open with a crash.

"No no no!" Pedi cried, "You can't go down there...."

Footsteps banging down the stairs, and an immense figure, even shrunk down as it had to be to even enter the house, loomed in the stairway. One of the ugliest, biggest (scaled down), STUPIDEST looking ogres any of them had ever seen. Weaponry was strapped to its sides and back, making it look like a porcupine, so many sharp edges protruded from its armored body. There it stood, looking for all the world like one of the most dangerous creatures in all the land. With a huge, stupid smile on its face.

"OGGA!" it said happily, pointing at River.

"Ramluk." River sighed.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

"Whiz, take us to the Plane of Knowledge please." River requested, his whole audience with Terris having unnerved him. The sooner they were gone, the better.

Whizbang pulled a small book out of his pocket and flipped a few pages, recalling the spell.

"Hold onto your seat!" he announced, and then began reciting the spell.

And...

...nothing.

"Odd." Whizbang frowned. "Not even a fizzle..."

~~end game~~ floated down from the sky. ~~the world changes, and so do we~~

Ramluk trembled. That, more that Terris' disembodied voice, frightened River more.

Suddenly, the ground near their feet heaved. The gnomes clung to one another and River struggled for balance, as the floor split. Red heat and light poured from a growing crack in the ground. River stared. Smoke and ashes blew out of the growing hole.

And from the depths of the earth, a black stallion cantered out, flames licking its hooves. A gorgeous ebony horse, with glowing red eyes.

~~a nightmare~~ Terris' voice intoned. ~~from my personal stock~resurrections have ceased, and now teleportation~eventually it will all end, and i along with it~without people to dream, even dreams of poison, i will simply fade away~i am not quite willing to be so easily discarded a second time~use the horse, and when your mission is done, i will reclaim him~your companions need but to touch him, and he will carry you swiftly to where you need to go~~

"Nice entrance." Vven said quietly, staring at the horse with mistrust. It was trotting toward Riverdane, smoke still curling from its nostrils. "Stepping out into the world amidst fire and brimstone."

"Brimstone." Riverdane declared, naming the horse. Somehow, it felt fitting. "Come here, Brimstone." And with uncanny intelligence, the horse came to him and nuzzled his palm. Its flesh seemed warmer than possible for it to still live, yet it was the most remarkable, healthiest specimen of horse he had ever seen.

Riverdane climbed up onto the horse's back, and reached down to extend a hand to Whizbang. The gnome didn't look happy, but took River's hand regardless and was pulled up onto the horse. Ramluk, still trembling, as spooked as any animal would be anywhere near the goddess of nightmares, lifted up Pedi and placed her on the back of the horse behind Whizbang.

"Ram, Vven, place your hands on the horses flanks, please." River suggested. Then Terris' voice assaulted them one final time:

~~your time grows short~keep the elf of dreams and the ogre close at hand, for i predict the fate of the world rests directly with their involvement~for now, ride, mortal hate, RIDE~~

"To the Plane of Knowledge, Brimstone." River said in the horse's ear, squeezing its sides with his knees. "Ride."

And with a flash of red light, they were gone.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

They sat under a tree in the Plane of Knowledge, mood grim. Brimstone grazed nearbye, as River lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Vven regarded him sternly.

"If you ever bring me back to that psycho bitch again, River, I'm putting you on my permanent 'Haunt' list." he said bluntly.

"Terris certainly hates men." Whizbang concurred. "I stood there with my legs crossed every time she looked at me."

"She's been hurt." Pedi retorted.

"She gave me nightmare." Ramluk said, trembling.

"Hmm?" Whizbang said, turning to the ogre. "While we were there? I must admit while she was opening River's mind, I could feel some residual power from her prying at my mind as well but I resisted it."

"So did I." Pedi said. Vven just nodded in agreement. "It was like she was trying to look into River and ended up blanketing us all with her power."

"Me had bad dream, but no dream, cuz awake." Ramluk said. "She scare me with dream."

Vven snorted nastily. "What in Inny's name could frighten an ogre?"

Ramluk looked ashamed. "When me little ogga, me and Big Momma come to elf land to find brownies to rip off legs to make chocolatey cookie. Was Ramluk birthday! So we sneak on boat, hide with rats in bottom. Get hungry. Eat rats. Sneak through dorf town and then elf land. Find brownies. Try rip off legs."

"Ram," River said, exhaling. "Was this a nightmare, or true?"

"True but purple lady make me rethink it." Ram said, lost in the memory. "Brownie look little, but they mean. They beat up Big Momma! But even as little ogga, me jump on them and barsh them good. And nice gnomes come and heal Big Momma and give us cookies and rip off brownie legs and send us home. The end." He beamed a smile at Pedi, who returned it. Whizbang just frowned incredulously.

"Funny," he began. "I don't recall in gnomish history the gnomes EVER helping an og..."

"That's a wonderful story, Ramluk." Pedi said, shooting Whizbang a glance.

"But no where in the history of Ak'Anon..." Whizbang tried again.

"THAT'S A WONDERFUL STORY!" Pedi growled.

"Yes dear." Whizbang said with a sigh. "Nice nightmare, Ramluk. Wonderful story."

"Ogga." Ramluk agreed.

"Alright, storytime's over." River said, stubbing out his cigarette. "Vven, what's the next part of the prophecy."

"Let's see..." Vven said. Suddenly, a halfling, dressed in the leather and chain garb of a rogue, stepped from the cobblestones near them and walked up to Vven, eyes shifting everywhere but at Vven himself, with a rolled up scroll in his hands.

"Vven Psyphon?" the halfling asked. One of Vven's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"Yes, assling, what can I do for you?" Vven replied.

"This is for you." the halfling said nervously, trying to push the scroll into Vven's hands. The scroll past right through the incorperal matter that made up the Tier'Dal. The halfling looked more nervous, continually trying to place the scroll into Vven's hands, and dropping the scroll to the ground. The more he tried, the more nervous he grew.

"River, open that scroll before he goes into convulsions please." Vven said impatiently.

River reached down and picked up the scroll from the ground and unrolled it.

Suddenly, with a flash of light, blue chains and shackles flew from the scroll in River's hands. Whipping like metal snakes, they flew through the air, more and more length pouring out of the scroll. Shackles clasped around Vven's wrists, and before the shocked party could even react, more chains wrapped around Vven like tentacles and with a snap, began retracting back into the scroll. Before they knew what had happened, Vven and the chains disappeared back into the scroll, leaving no sign of anything strange, just some sentences on the scroll. The halfling seemed relieved, and addressed the scroll Vven had disappeared into, as if Vven could hear him.

"Vven Psyphon," the halfling said. "You've been served. Have a nice day."

"Served!" Whizbang said, as the halfling scurried away.

"Whizbang, I can't read this." River said, handing the scroll to Whizbang as if it was a snake that might bite. The gnome took it in fascination.

"That's because it's in Higher Planar." Whizbang said. "Few bother to learn it, or have the skill." He read it out loud, frown lines increasing as he did:

"Vven Psyphon, you are hearby accused of crimes against the universe by the Tribunal, and are sentenced to permanent imprisonment until Trial of Execution, beginning immediately."

"Trial of Execution!" Pedi exclaimed. "You mean Vven..."

"...is in jail." Riverdane sighed.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

"Let him rot." Whizbang said. Pedi punched him hard in the shoulder.

"Ow! Damnation, woman!" Whizbang exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder. "That evil bastard was more trouble than he was worth!"

"Regardless," Riverdane said, leading Brimstone toward the portal stone to the Plane of Tranquility. "You heard Terris. Vven is vital to the success of this quest."

"Yeah, I heard her." Whizbang grumbled, reluctantly falling into step behind Pedi and Ramluk. "She also mentioned something about male reproductive organs roasting on a spit."

They touched the portal stone, and were gone.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

Surrounded.

Riverdane's stomach heaved as he glanced down at his feet. Standing in the trial room of the Plane of Justice, the large stone slab he stood on would suddenly disappear, leaving him on solid ground, but standing in empty space, floating seemingly in thin air. Ramluk growled next to him, also thrown off by the sudden change in perspective. Whizbang and Pedi shifted uneasily, one moment firmly planted on the ground, the next, suspended in a night sky with stars and suns dotting the background, above them, below them. And around them, six huge robed figures staring silently at them, was the Tribunal. Each carrying a huge hammer, each no more than a living robe. But the power eminating from those robed non-beings was stronger than any physical shape could produce. River felt as if he were guilty of....something. It didn't matter what. Just feeling as if he was guilty and that they knew it, and were, with their eyeless gaze, deciding on his sentence.

The first spoke, voice deep and resonant, coming from within the robes. The voice of The Law.

"What..." it said.

And then clockwise, each figure said but one word. River turned to face each like a top.

"Do..."

"You..."

"Seek..."

"Mortal..."

"Hate...?"

River swallowed his unease with difficulty and addressed the first on.

"You have a companion of mine, Vven Psyphon." he said carefully. "I would like to know what charges he is being imprisoned for and how we may go about freeing him."

"Bringing..."

"Forth..."

"The..."

"Prisoner..."

"Vven..."

"Psyphon..."

On the last word, Vven appeared in a blink before them, from thin air. His hands were shackled together, as well as a short chain binding his feet. The chalk was still in his hands. He gaped.

"Prisoner..."

"Vven..."

"Psyphon's..."

"Trial..."

"To..."

"Commence..."

"Well." Vven said testily. "Don't you guys knock first? You almost caught me with my pants down. Your gourmet bread gave me the runs."

"The..."

"Prisoner..."

"Will..."

"Now..."

"Be..."

"Judged..."

"What?" Vven said. "Do you guys share the same brain?"

Silence.

Vven opened his mouth to say more.

"Vven." Whizbang said. "Shut up."

And then as one, all six hammers swung down, hit empty air and the deafening sound of a gavel strike reverberated through the room.

The first Tribunal spoke.

"This Court is now in order."

Somewhere in the distance, the sound of cell door slamming closed, and a muffled scream.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

The first Tribunal spoke, a flat, emotionless voice.

"Is the defendant aware of the charges brought against him?"

Vven opened his mouth to speak, and then paused, a look of concentration on his face. A short time passed.

"Is this about those three assling missionaries in the Nektulos?" he asked cautiously.

No answer.

"Hmm." Vven said, "Um, how about that casino scam in the Bazaar?"

No answer.

"Ooook, the Wood Elf Strangler? Not that I was anywhere near Greater Fay at the time, just wondering and all..."

"Vven!" Pedi exclaimed, shocked.

"I didn't do it!" Vven exclaimed, "I just used to play poker with a guy that might have..." He waited. "No, huh? Hmm....How about the fire in the Marr temple in Freeport?"

"That was you?" Whizbang said incredulously.

"I didn't do it!" Vven added again hastily. "Fire isn't my thing. I don't even smoke!" He waited for any sign of movement from the Tribunal. "HE smokes." Vven said, pointing to Riverdane.

River shot him a dirty look.

"A lot." Vven finished.

"Ogga." Ramluk agreed.

"Vven?" Whizbang asked.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

"Ok."

"The defendant is unaware of the charges being brought against him." the Tribunal intoned.

"What are the charges?" River asked.

The second Tribunal spoke. "Akethadar of Promethian Order had accused you, Riverdane Wyldechylde, of causing the first permanent death of the Universe. After our investigation, it seems the instigator of Cazic's attack was not you, but Vven Psyphon, and he stands here for sentencing today."

"Oh that..." Vven said. "That I did."

"We will now hear arguments for his defense. If we find the defense to be weak, he will be sentenced to stay imprisoned for eternity."

"Alright, " River began, "We needed to go to Fear because..."

"Not you, Mortal Hate." the first Tribunal said. "You were implicated by Akethadar, and your testimonial would be in question."

All six lifted discorpreal arms and pointed at Whizbang.

"You, Whizbang Dustyboots, will defend Vven Psyphon." the Tribunal said.

"Great, I'm dead." Vven moaned.

"Pass." Whizbang said.

"This isn't a loot roll!" Pedi exclaimed, hitting him in the shoulder. "Defend him!"

"Damnation!" Whizbang muttered.

The Tribunal dropped their arms and Whizbang suddenly found himself in a bright, almost blinding light, cutting through the gloom.

"The defense of Vven Psyphon by Whizbang Dustyboots shall commence."

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

"For the record," Whizbang said, squinting in the harsh light, "State your name."

"Vven Psyphon." Vven replied.

"With two V's?" Whiz clarified.

"With two V's." Vven sighed.

"And a "ph" instead of an "f"?" Whiz asked.

"Is this really necessary?" Vven snapped.

"Let the record show the defendant is hostile." Whizbang said smugly.

"It shall be noted." The Tribunal said.

"Whizbang." River murmured through gritted teeth. "I think the prosecutors have all the help they need."

Whizbang looked abashed. "Alright, may I please see the evidence and testimony that led to Vven Psyphon's incarceration?"

"Witness number one:" the Tribunal said. "Akethadar of Promethian Order."

A flash of light, and Akethadar appeared in the room.

"Akethadar, account for us what happened to Aamedor and Tremas of Promethian Order." the Tribunal commanded.

"WYLDECHYLDE TRAINED CAZIC THULE ON OUR CAMP, CAUSING THE DEATHS OF FOUR PROMETHIAN ORDER, TWO WHOM WE COULD NOT REZ AFTER AND ARE FOREVER DEAD." Akethadar said loudly.

"Was Vven Psyphon in attendance?"

"Who is Vven Psyphon?" Akethadar asked.

The Tribunal lifted a robed arm to point at Vven in his chains.

"Him." The Tribunal indicated.

"YES, THE DARK ELF SCUM WAS THERE AS WELL." Akethadar concurred. And then, with another flash of light, Akethadar was gone.

"Let the record show the witness has placed the defendant at the scene of the crime." the Tribunal declared.

"He was there, yes." Whizbang began, "but that hardly proves that..."

"Next witness:" the Tribunal interrupted. "Cazic Thule, God of Fear."

A flash of light, and Cazic's huge form filled the trial room, lumpy misshapen hands shackled together. He looked utterly miserable.

"Tell us of your involvement with Vven Psyphon." the Tribunal demanded.

Cazic turned his head to peer at Vven, and then gave out a little shriek.

"Oh my us! It's him!" he cried. "Keep him away from me! He made me crazy! If it wasn't for him poking and prodding me to kill those Promethian Order people, I would be home now instead of in prison! I wish I had never set eyes on him!"

"Let the record show that the co-defendant has indicated conspiracy of the defendant." the Tribunal intoned.

"Can I please go home now?" Cazic begged pitifully. "This centaur in the next cell keeps looking over at me and calling me sweetheart!"

With a flash of light, Cazic was gone.

"Cazic commits the murders through his henchmen, and Vven goes to prison?" Whizbang said scornfully. "I certainly hope you have more than THAT."

"Next witness:" the Tribunal invoked. "Fright."

Same flash of light. And there stood Fright, chained as Cazic was.

"Tell us what you witnessed, Fright." the Tribunal instructed.

"Well, see, it's like I said." Fright began. "We were just death touching the monk, who GOT his rez, by the way, when in comes this dark elf with Hate over there and the ogre and the gnomes. And the dark elf starts working up Cazic till he was like...crazy. Haven't seen him this bloodthirsty in years. Next thing I know, I am being commanded to deathtouch the cleric. I was just following orders, ya know? But the orders started with the darkelf over there."

"Let the record show the witness has indicated the defendant masterminded the murders." the Tribunal declared.

Fright leaned in close to Vven. "I'll see you after lights out, bish." he growled. Vven went two shades lighter.

"The prosecution rests." the Tribunal said.

Whizbang paused for a moment, then squared up his shoulders.

"So does the defense." Whizbang pronounced. "He's guilty as hell."

Pedi bonked Whizbang over the head.

"GET ME A NEW LAWYER!" Vven wailed in shock. "I'll even take the ogga! Filthy rotten rabid gnome!"

"Let the record show that the defendant requested new representation, and that the court assigned Ramluk in place of Whizbang Dustyboots." the Tribunal announced.

Ramluk was bathed in a bright white light. Riverdane groaned.

"OGGA." Ramluk said happily.

"Let the defense of Vven Psyphon continue."

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

"Say name." Ramluk asked Vven.

"Didn't we already do this?" Vven sighed.

"NAME!" Ramluk roared.

"Vven." Vven said in disgust.

"Ven." Ramluk repeated.

"Two V's." Vven added.

"Ven Toovees." Ramluk corrected.

Another sigh. "Psyphon."

Ramluk wrinkled his brow. "Who Fon? Why sigh?"

"Forget it."

"Kk."

"Proceed." the Tribunal said flatly.

"Ok, ogga go." Ramluk said. He walked up to the Tribunal, and jutted a finger at Vven.

"He no do it." Ramluk said, and smiled.

"Yes he did." the Tribunal replied.

"Oh, ok." Ramluk said, crestfallen. Vven looked like he would weep.

"Proceed." the Tribunal repeated.

Ramluk then grew very very still.

Time passed.

No movement from the ogre. River could hear a pin drop if it fell.

More time.

Even the Tribunal started shifting uncomfortably.

More time.

Then....

Ramluk scratched his rear end.

More time passed.

"Oh would you get on with it already you big oaf!" Vven screeched.

"Kk." Ramluk said. He pointed at Whizbang.

"What you do?" Ramluk demanded.

"Me?" Whizbang said. "I didn't do anything but port out of Fear!"

"No no not then." Ramluk clarified. "What you do for job?"

"Oh." Whizbang said, rolling up his sleeves. "I am Whizbang Dustyboots, gnomish sorcerer of the fourth rank, Baron of the Dragonscale Hills, a Master of the Eldritch Collective and wielder of the Staff of the Four. I am the scourge of the Teir'Dal, death incarnate to..."

"Nevermind." Ramluk said, stopping Whiz mid-sentence. He turned to Pedi. "What you do? Beside make good cookie."

Pedi smiled and obliged him. "I am a cleric. I heal people. I make others well."

"Ya!" Ramluk exclaimed. Then he turned to Riverdane. "What you do?"

"Umm..." River said, caught off guard. "I'm the guildleader of Razor's Edge. I....I lead people."

"Ya!" Ramluk said again, quite pleased with the answer. "That what you do."

"Get to the point, ogga!" Vven cut in. "God I hate oggaspeak."

"Ya!" Ramluk said. "That what you do. You hate gud." He turned to the Tribunal. "See?"

"No." the Tribunal said. "Explain."

Ramluk sighed, then tried again. He pointed to the Tribunal.

"What you do?"

"We judge and sentence mortals for crimes against the universe." the Tribunal answered.

"Why?" Ramluk asked.

The Tribunal paused. If River read them right, they seemed to be at a loss for words.

After a pause, the Tribunal answered.

"It is our function in this reality to do this. It is our purpose for being."

"Ya!" Ramluk said excitedly. "Same for Ven Toovees! He hate gudder than any guy me know! He full of hate like ogga full of fat and muscle! He live to hate!"

Whizbang jumped in to add, "What Ramluk is trying to say is that it is in Vven's nature to hate and destroy, and to try him on his basic nature is no more applicable than to charge a cat for killing a mouse, that it is instinctual."

"Ya!" Ramluk said. "Ven stink!"

"Instincts are for animals." the Tribunal said. "Vven's destruction was premeditated, not born of passion or instinct. Whether evil or good by nature, he broke the very fabric of natural law by causing not ordinary death, but permanent death, altering the fabric of our reality."

"Ven just make people die!" Ramluk protested. "Nature law make people stay dead!"

The Tribunal stared at Ramluk, paused and then said: "Explain."

Once more, Whizbang stepped in, a look of dawning comprehension on his wizened face. "What Ramluk is saying is that Vven was but a tool used by natural law itself. That the Prophecy named him "enchanted dead" and that Terris herself even deemed him as "necessary for the fulfillment of the Prophecy", to paraphrase her. What Vven did was not an unnatural act, but fulfilling the very direction that nature, through the Prophecy, was directing us all towards. Vven was but a tool of the natural order of things, as redefined by the Prophecy."

"Me did?" Ramluk asked, confused.

"You did, my boy." Whizbang beamed. "You did."

"We will confer." The Tribunal said, turning toward one another and speaking in hushed tones.

River leaned into Ramluk. "You're a lot smarter than people think, ogga, but I get the feeling you know that." he whispered.

Ramluk gave River a sly smile. "What better?" he asked. "People thinking you smart when you stupid? Or people thinking you stupid when you smart?"

River fixed him with a long odd look. Ramluk winked.

The Tribunal turned back to them.

"We have reached our decision."

River turned away from Ramluk and held his breath.

"Let the sentencing of Vven Psyphon commence."

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

No one dared breathe.

"Vven Psyphon, it is the opinion of this court that you acted with premeditation and deliberation to cause the deaths of two Promethian Order members. It was not a crime of passion or one born of insanity, but rather, a carefully planned murder."

"Well....yeah." Vven shrugged.

"However," the Tribunal said. "We have also determined that you had no knowledge of the permanency of the death that you caused, nor if you had known, that the Prophecy would have permitted you to act in any other form than you did."

Vven blinked. "Soooo...I'm off the hook?"

The Tribunal ignored him and continued on. "Your guilt or innocence, therefore, will be determined by the very fate which seems to have driven you to your present dilemma. If fate would have you free, it will aid you in the task we will set before you. If it would have you imprisoned forever, you will fail."

"What??" Vven asked incredulously. "Talk about passing the platinum piece! You can't come up with a straight answer so you're going to let 'fate' decide it? What kind of backward system do you..."

"Vven?" Whizbang cut in.

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

Vven shut up.

The Tribunal went on: "You will perform the Trial of Execution. A prisoner will be at a beheading block, as one of our executioners and his minions make their way towards him. You must defeat the minions and then the executioner himself. If you take too long, the executioner will behead the prisoner, and you will have failed the trial."

Vven had listened quietly through the explanation, but seemed unable to contain himself. "You know, fellas, that would make a really great concept for a game or something, but obviously you aren't too well grounded in reality. Ok, ok, I'll do it. And if I kill enough of your minions, I will prove I'm not a killer. Sounds perfectly logical. I once dated a girl with logic like that."

"You may bring up to five companions to assist you. Just concentrate on them deeply, and they will be summoned here to serve justice."

"Well," Vven said, looking around the room. "I have four right here. But I don't have the foggiest who I should pick as the..."

"Allow me." Riverdane said, furrowing his brow. A look of heavy thought crossed his face. And suddenly there was a flash of light.

A young high elven male appeared in the middle of the room, clad in nothing but a pair of black boxers with rather bright red hearts embroidered on them. Bright white light bathed him suddenly, making his pale skin go ghost white. He squinted at the Tribunal.

"Hey, if this is about Aiene...." he said quickly, "...I had NO idea she was only seventeen...."

Silence from the Tribunal.

"Umm, the paternity suit from Midasa? The kid looks more human than elven!" he tried.

Silence.

"They must get more confessions this way." Whizbang commented dryly.

The elf squinted into the shadows, recognizing Whizbang standing next to Pedi. "Is this about Pedi?" the elf said. "I never even THOUGHT about Pedi. You have the wrong guy, I never touched her." Then after an appraisal of the gnome with his eyes. "Um, you and Whiz breaking up Ped? Cause if you're free..."

"Verdad!" Pedi exclaimed, kicking him in the shin.

"Ok, ok! Can't blame an elf for trying!"

"Verdad Primo, you have been summoned by the Tribunal to participate in the Trial of Execution in the defense of Vven Psyphon."

Verdad blinked in surprise. "Area blasting?" he asked.

"Aye." Riverdane said with a smile.

"Get me my pants!" Verdad exclaimed happily. "I'm in!"

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

Dark twisting corridors, leading deep into the prison that was the Plane of Justice.

Cell upon cell, each filled with the perpetrators of the worst crimes in the history of the universe. And the deeper they went, the more nortorious the criminal. Groans eminated from some of the cells, cackles from others. Pedi gripped Whizbang's arm like a vice.

"Stay clear of the doors," Whizbang said. "Some of these criminals have gone quite insane after the first 100 or so years of imprisonment."

Pedi nodded and clung to her husband. A scream split the air, and her hold tightened.

Suddenly, through the bars on one cell, an arm shot out, grasping at her like a blind snake searching for its victim. Pedi shrieked.

"It's alright, Pedi, he can't reach you." Whizbang said, frowning at the twisted hand.

"Nice name." hissed a voice through the bars.

"Let's get out of here, please." Pedi begged. "I don't like this."

"Don't duck." the voice said.

"What the hells is he muttering about?" Vven asked, bewildered.

Verdad spun his finger in a small circle near his temple. "This is where they keep the fruitcakes. His mind is soup."

"Ogga." Ramluk agreed.

"Let's just get out of here." Pedi said, pulling on Whiz's sleeve to keep them moving.

"Where is my club?" the voice moaned, sobbing, at their retreating backs. "I want my clubbbbb...."

River raised an eyebrow and looked at Vven. "I hope this works Vven."

Vven looked back over his shoulder towards the door of the insane prisoner they left behind with a worried look on his face. "So do I, Riv, so do I."

"Well, we'll soon find out." Verdad said happily, opening a large cell door and motioning them inside.

"We're here."

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

Through the room echoed the voice of the Tribunal.

"Begin."

The door has disappeared behind them as they had entered the room, gone, as if it had never existed, leaving them sealed in a large empty stone courtroom devoid of exits. At one side of the room stood the Prime Executioner, another black robed phantom similiar to the Tribunal, but rather than a giant hammer in his hand, he carried a wicked looking axe. At the other end of the room knelt a rather desperate looking young man with his hands bound behind his back, in front of a stump apparently used, by the dried blood caked on its top, as a chopping block. The Prime Executionar stood silent.

"Kill him!" Vven shrieked, pointing at the executioner.

"No no." Verdad said, eyes darting around the room for other movement. "I'm personally responsible for half the murderers in Norrath being free. We save big, tall, and gruesome for the end. We don't touch him till we piss him off."

"You better go over procedure for the virgins." Whizbang suggested, turning in a small circle in the middle of the room....watching...waiting.

"Alright boys and girls, this is how we do it." Verdad said, rolling up the sleeves on his robe. "River, Ramluk, the first part of this you're just going to watch magic at its most destructive. Get to the sides and let us work. Vven you're going to chain area stun...anything that's moving around us I want locked down. Whiz and I are going to lay out area blasts on two levels, Whiz cutting them off at the knees and me at the throat. Pedi, your job is to keep us all alive through the procedure, anything resists the stun and we're going to resemble bloody dishrags. Ram, Riv, if you need to do anything during that time, if you see a mob outside of Vven's stun area, knock it back in. Ram will have his moment when all the Prime's henchmen are dead. And remember to conserve mana. It's...rather intense."

"Anything else?" River asked.

"Aye." Verdad added. "Look good, and remember to smile. You never know who's watching."

And then, with a sudden burst of movement, four creatures appeared in the room.

The henchmen of the Prime Executioner weren't men at all. Rather, there were two types, two of each. One type looked like a humanoid form made entirely of large rocks somehow held together. The other was roughly humanoid in shape, but all resemblence ended there, with sharp spines lining its back and razor sharp edges sprouting from every angle of its body. The Prime Executioner started walking slowly toward the prisoner. And the four henchmen jumped towards Pedi.

"Here we go!" Verdad cried, hands lighting with red fire. Whizbang's hands similarily started to glow.

Vven began chanting, blue pulsing light pushing out from his body in a visible wave. Three of the creatures were struck by it, repeatedly. They froze in place, vibrating slowly as they were assaulted by wave after wave of force.

"Ogga!" Ramluk said, kicking the fourth in the rear so it entered the radius of Vven's stuns. Now all four were locked.

Still the Prime Executioner marched toward the prisoner, to the side, axe gleaming in the torchlight.

Whizbang and Verdad were turning in tight fast circles, hands building light. Suddenly with almost synchronized movement, their hands flew out, fire leaping forth with a loud boom. The creatures were engulfed in it, and the smell of burning flesh filled the room.

They tried, between waves of stuns, to swipe at the two wizards, or the dark elf that was keeping them at bay. One connected solidly with Vven, pausing the stuns for a moment and tearing a nasty gash across the enchanter's arm. Vven almost lost momentum, looking shocked rather than hurt that he could bleed again after the time spent as a ghost. Pedi's eyes lit blue, and light darted from them to the wound. It began to mend, and Vven redoubled his efforts.

The Prime Executioner had reaches the prisoner.

"Do you have anything further to say in your own defense?" he asked the young man.

BOOM. A final blast, and the four henchmen were dead.

"Excuse me." the Prime Executioner said to the prisoner. He crossed to the other side of the room.

"We kill him now??" Vven asked, clearly drained from all the output of force. Pedi looked alright, and Verdad was grinning, looking fine. Whizbang seemed a bit tired. Magic had its price in power.

"Nope." Verdad said. "He's still saying excuse me. He's not quite angry with us yet."

The Prime Executioner waved his hand, and four more henchmen appeared.

"Second wave!" Verdad said gleefully, beginning to spin.

"Second wave." Vven muttered, pulsing out his blue light as the Executioner began his walk towards the prisoner.

Explosions and shockwaves permeated the room as the Executioner continued his walk. River and Ramluk sheilded their eyes from the light show that threatened to blind them as Whizbang and Verdad lit the room up.

"Do you have anything further to say in your own defense?" the Prime Executioner asked the prisoner again.

The prisoner bowed his head and said nothing.

"All gone!" Verdad called out happily. "Next!"

"One moment." the Prime Executioner sighed to prisoner. The prisoner just looked annoyed.

"Now! Now! Kill him now!" Vven cried, poiting to the Prime Executioner.

"Nope!" Verdad answered, hands glowing red.

Wave three.

Four more henchmen, another set of explosions. Whizbang looking much more weary, and Pedi with a thin sheen of sweat on her brow, as the henchmen, finding less stuns from Vven as he tired, found openings in their defense and landed more blows. Only Verdad seemed untaxed. And the Prime Executioner marched on.

"Do you have anything further to say in your own defense?" the Prime Executioner asked the prisoner a third time.

The prisoner bowed his head and said nothing.

"Very well, then." The Prime Executioner said, lifting his axe.

BOOM.

"Not so fast, Chop Chop!" Verdad said, as Whizbang slumped down in exhaustion and Vven stood there looking rather dazed.
"You see any bad guys? *I* don't see any bad guys."

"Sec sec." the Prime Executioner growled, with a look of apology to the prisoner.

"Oh for the love of Karana, get on with it!" the prisoner said with disgust.

"Final wave!" Verdad cackled gleefully.

And once more, the wizards began to spin.

Light, fire, waves of cold. Four more henchmen, now landing shots every other attempt, Pedi healing each in the circle of force as fast as she could pray. And the Prime Executioner marched on.

"Do you have anything further to say in your own defense?" the Prime Executioner asked the prisoner pointlessly.

The prisoner bowed his head and said nothing.

"Very well, then." The Prime Executioner said, lifting his axe. The prisoner eagerly placed his head on the chopping block.

"Hurry!" he urged the Executioner.

"Too late!" Verdad cried, motioning to the four bodies of the latest batch of henchmen.

"ENOUGH!" The Prime Executioner roared, and leapt at them, axe high.

"Ogga?" Ramluk asked.

"Aye, now!" Verdad replied.

"OGGA!" Ramluk yelled, leaping in front of the Executioner, swords flashing.

Axe met swords, and the final battle began.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

Steel on steel.....sparks fly, tendons swell, as the Prime Executioner's axe struck Ramluk's crossed swords.

River drew Reaver and began an assault on the massive back of the executioner, while Ramluk parried, riposted, hacked, dodged each swing of the formidable axe with a grace that almost looked delicate. Ramluk was in his element, the art of war. It was an art that came as instinctively to him as breathing.

River's swings, enough to cleave a normal man in half, vibrated off the back of the executioner as if his skin were stone. His arms ached as he chopped, wondering how Ramluk could keep up with this axe wielding machine.

Throughout the fight, as axe would slip through the warrior's defenses and land, Pedi was healing, blue light pulsing from her as she spot healed each wound. Meanwhile, the two wizards were alternating casting a spell that landed like a concussion of force against the Prime Executioner, and then followed with blazing fire. The concussions were enough to keep him dazed enough not to notice they were slowly frying him to death. Wild magic filled the air.

A slice, a jab, a parry with axe, and the Prime Executioners eyes burned red deep in his hood. Axe flew up and came down hard on Ramluk's shoulder, and Ramluk's armor reacted violently, shattering as if glass.

"Big Momma made me armors." Ramluk said sadly, cutting into the Prime Executioner.

The executioner was weakening, but not quickly enough. Now with Ramluk's armor gone, the blows landed more cripplingly, and Pedi found herself healing larger and more deadly wounds.

"How much you got left?" Verdad called to Whizbang, seeing the old gnome sweating with exertion next to him. Whizbang let out a final blast, and then slumped to the ground onto his knees. His face was white.

"Nothing." Whizbang panted. "I don't have nothing."

"I can't keep this up!" Pedi cried, healing a gash in Ramluk's leg. Ramluk was being assaulted like a rabid dog with a child's doll. But still he fought back, keeping the executioner focused on him while River whittled away.

"That's it!" Pedi cried, fixing Ramluk's broken ribs and dropping to the ground. "I'm out. I can't keep up."

Verdad just laughed and landed a huge bolt of light that knocked the Prime Executioner motionless. "Alright, Ram, Riv! Back off! Now for the big finale!"

Ramluk and River backed off the stunned executioner, exhausted. Verdad's hands began to light like a star.

"And now, for my next trick..." Verdad said, levelling his hands toward the executioner.

Like a released spring, the executioner came out of his stun. With speed hard to follow, he brought up the butt of his axe, knocking Verdad's hands up. Verdad's magic unleashed into the ceiling.

"Not in the face!" Verdad cried to the executioner. And then a chunk of stone, loosened from the ceiling being blasted, fell and struck him on the back of the head. Verdad swayed, fighting consciousness.

The Prime Executioner turned to loom over Whizbang. The gnome didn't even have the strength to stand, just knelt there. At that moment, Whizbang looked very very old. The executioner swung up his axe. Whizbang watched without flinching.

"Take care of my girl, River." he said simply. The axe began to fall.

"Ah hells!" Vven muttered, waving a hand over his chest. A thin shimmer of runes etched onto the dark elf's skin. "Life is over-rated anyway!"

Vven stepped between Whizbang and the executioner.

The axe landed squarely between his eyes.

The runes shimmered bright red and then disappeared, and Vven staggered under the blow. But for all its deadly intent the swing was stopped dead, and Vven otherwise unharmed. The executioner roared in Vven's face and swung up the axe again.

"Here's a tip." Vven offered, closing his eyes. "Buy some mints."

--PULSE--

Vven opened his eyes to find a robe with its hood blown off slumping to the ground, the axe hitting the floor with a loud clang. Riverdane's hands glowed black with the residue of the harmtouch that beheaded the executioner.

Whizbang staggered to his feet, looking at Vven oddly.

"You...saved me." he said at last.

"Well..." Vven said, looking a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, I did." Their eyes met, and something, however temporary, passed between them.

"Whiz, would you kiss him already so we can get out of here?" Pedi snapped.

Riverdane pulled Verdad to his feet. "You alright Verd?"

"Aye." Verdad replied, nursing his wounded head. "Wasn't in the face."

A voice echoed in the trial room.

"Vven Psyphon, you are free to go. Case dismissed."

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

Outside of the Plane of Justice, the six gathered in Tranquility at the base of a tree. Tranquility's mix of eternal sunrise/sunset lit the lightly clouded sky beautifully, and it was hard to imagine that they had just all fought for their lives just an hour before. Except for the exhaustion etched on their faces. Verdad had spent the last half hour listening to a recap of their adventures from Whizbang, interjecting what little he could confirm, about the ceasing of resurrections and the inability of porting. Brimstone grazed off to the side, oblivious to the tale of impending doom.

"So you are off to...?" Verdad inquired.

"Vven?" Whizbang prompted. Vven, now discorperal once more, regarded him blankly.

"What?" he asked.

"The prophecy, dammit." Whizbang replied.

"What do I look like, your personal secretary?" Vven shot back.

"Well, that was a short marriage." Pedi commented. Riverdane chuckled.

"Alright alright." Vven recalled after a pause:

"Only when Fear can overcome fear,
And a Nightmare shed a single tear
And that tear does burn in Natural flame
Can one stop the beginning of End Game."

"Natural flame." Whizbang said. "Nature. Tunare."

"Lovely." Vven said, miserable.

"Wakening Lands." Verdad commented. "So how are we getting there with Whiz and my ports out of commision?"

Riverdane pointed to Brimstone. "Have horse, will travel." he said. "But 'we', Verd? You signing onto this?"

"May as well, it's my world too." Verdad said with a smile. "Besides, with ports down, that little vacation to Cobalt Scar with Jazzy is so off....unless..." Verdad looked over at Brimstone. "Hey Dad, can I borrow the horse?" Brimstone tossed back his head and snorted fire in indignation. "Didn't think so."

"Let's go." River said, walking to the horse and swinging onto his back.

"River..." Whizbang said, sitting down. "I am old, I almost died defending an inky, and I am out of mana. In short, we mortals must SLEEP."

River opened his mouth to speak, but then looked closely at them. Verdad looked tired, Pedi exhausted. Even Ramluk's massive shoulders were stooped. And Whizbang looked beyond his many years.

"River, I know we only have a month on this, and you miss your wife, but we need to rest." Pedi said gently. "Please."

"I'm not tired." Vven said brightly.

"Vven?" Pedi said, turning tired eyes toward him.

"Hmm?"

"Shut up." Pedi said.

"Bah."

"Sleep, guys." River said. "We'll go when able."

"Good." Verdad said, setting up near the base of the tree. "I need my beauty rest."

Whizbang smiled in appreciation and lay down next to his wife, one arm protectively over her. Within seconds, both were out. Magic of the caliber they used in the trial paid its toll, and dearly.

"Ogga guard!" Ramluk said, sitting protectively next to the two gnomes.

"Ram, we're in Tranquility. Not even I am dangerous here." Vven said.

"Oh." Ramluk said. Two seconds later his chin was hitting his chest and he was snoring to wake the dead.

"Well, Wyldechylde," Vven said. "Just us."

"Just us." River said from atop Brimstone, looking out at that sky that he and his wife in earlier times had spent so much time staring at. His eyes grew distant, and Vven ceased to exist for him.

"Just us my ass." Vven murmured, seeing River staring out over the water. "He's with Cami, and inky? Is alone."

Vven went into a medative state, half aware, a mental shut down as he floated like a phantom guard.

And River's eyes, unblinking, drank deep the sky.

Riverdane · Member Joined: 21 Nov 2001 Posts: 1434

"Ready?" River asked.

"Thank you." Whizbang said, looking a hundred percent better. "I'm no kid anymore."

Ramluk was still yawning off the night's sleep. River lifted Pedi up onto Brimstone's back, and then Whizbang. Verdad gathered on one side, Ramluk on the other and Vven hovered behind the horse. River climbed up behind Whiz and gathered in Brimstone's reins. River's mind was still elsewhere as he leaned toward the horse's ears.

"River," Whiz asked. "A question. Are you still the infamous dragon hunter you've always been?"

"Aye." River said distractedly, and then into Brimstone's ear: "To Wakening Land." The horse and companions started to shimmer.

"Why?" River asked as they disappeared.

FLASH--A horse and six people arrive in the lush foliage known as Wakening Land.

"Because..." Whizbang began, panic creeping into his voice.

"YOU WILL NOT EVADE ME, RIVERDANE!" came a loud brazen female voice from behind them.

"...Wuoshi may be up!" Whizbang finished, bouncing off the horse and tugging at Pedi's ankle. She slid off hastily as River spun Brimstone around.

Wuoshi beat her wings angrily in all her terrifying glory. One of the two dragons of Wakening Land, she was a sleek reptile of emormous size, brown and green scaled with large patches of tan crossing her mammoth bulk. A long thin neck, with a head atop with a mouth lined with sharp teeth. That mouth opened wide.

A deafening frightening sound issued forth from Wuoshi's maw. It washed over them like a palpable force. River felt himself gripped in terror.

With reflexes battle honed, River brought his hitched breathing under control. He recalled his training as knight, and the rarely used discipline of fearlessness he had learned.

However, Brimstone had had no such training.

The wave of fear had affected his companions as well. Ramluk had instinctively taken on a defensive posture, a warrior discipline used to cut his damage in half while maintained, but leaving no room for fearlessness. And the others were totally unprepared for the dragon's roar. They scattered like fish released into a pond deep into the wilderness.

As Brimstone spooked, River grabbed tight onto his reins, but the panicked horse would not be controlled. River caught sight of Vven chuckling off to the side, unaffected. And then, the horse bolted.

River could hear the dragon smashing through the trees behind him at an ungodly rate. It was all he could do to hold onto Brimstone's reins while attempting to duck low lying branches from the surrounding tree.

Wuoshi closed in on him fast, matching the horse's speed. River could almost feel her hot breath on his neck. And then, he heard something that sounded like steam escaping a kettle.

A green waft of vapors surrounded Riverdane, and he breathed them deep unwittingly.

Dragon breath, he though a moment too late, I'm toast.

Every muscle in River's body contracted violently, locking up. Brimstone took two more jarring gallops and River, completely immobilized, bounced off the horses back to land violently on the ground. River's eyes stared up in open shock, unable to move, as he lay there paralyzed like a fly in a spider's web. He heard the sound of Brimstone's hooves hitting the ground and retreating further and further into the distance.

In his limited range of vision, Wuoshi's huge head loomed into view, taking up all visible space. And damned if it didn't seem like she was smiling, in some vague, reptilian way.

"Dragonkiller, dragonkiller, dragonkiller." she purred. "My aren't we the mighty dragonkiller now?"

River stared up at her blankly, while his mind screamed.

"I've heard about you, Wyldechylde." she murmured. "I helped set afire the bodies of the drakes you slaughtered your last 'visit' to Skyshrine. I took in the broodlings of Mazi after you decapitated her in the Western Wastes. The scent of your fetid blood has been in my system for years now, and now we finally meet. And aren't you.....small."

Wake up, River, NOW! he begged himself. But wake up to what? To be able to struggle in this dragon's maw while she swallowed the last, however misrepresented, chance the world had? She was in total control.

"So now, where to start?" Wuoshi pondered, a bead of saliva dripping unchecked from her mouth to land on River's cheek like a slimy tear. "Shall I bite off your head, similiar to the way you treated Mazi? Or should I let you live while I eat your feet first? The poison should keep your body alive as I devour you. Keep the meat....warm."

Her mouth opened wide.

"WHAT are you DOING?" came a loud voice off to the left. River could not turn to see who it may be, but the shock of that loud a voice coming so close to him frightened him all the more. He has not even heard an approach.

Wuoshi's head snaked to the side, and River could see only trees and sky, and just listen.

"Milord Yelinak!" Wuoshi exclaimed.

River blanched. Lord Yelinak, master of the Claws of Veeshan. Could his day get any worse. The Dragon Lord himself.

"What's happening, girl?" Yelinak said heartily.

"Nothing, milord!" Wuoshi said, clearly awed by her visitor. "Just I have pinned down the criminal Riverdane Wyldechylde, and was about to slay him in your name!"

"Hmmm, more like in the name of your belly." Yelinak said dryly.

"Milord?" Wuoshi blinked.

"Tell me, Wuoshi, have you been eating a lot of red meat, lately?" Yelinak asked.

"I....I.....I've had a giant or two recently, milord, yes." She seemed unsure of how to proceed.

"Ewww.....frozen food. That would explain it." Yelinak said disapprovingly.

"I'm afraid I don't underst...." Wuoshi began.

"I think you've had one too many Giantsicles, Wuoshi honey." Yelinak commented.

There was a shocked pause. "Do you think I look...fat?" Wuoshi stammered.

"Welllll, you're no Lady Gore, but I wouldn't say FAT." Yelinak drawled. "And to think, I was coming here to ask you to the Dragon Ball, and find you snacking on a greasy human! I have to say, Shishi. that I'm a little turned off."

"The Dragon Ball!" Wuoshi exclaimed, almost crying. "Milord, it would be my honor to accompany you to..."

"Let's not get all hasty." Yelinak said. "In the condition you're in, I may just ask Talendor to come with me..."

"Sire, but Talendor is a male, and not even of Claws of Veeshan..." Wuoshi said in shock.

"Oh, she's a he? I didn't realize." Yelinak said lightly. "No matter. I'm still thinking I'll take her...him..it. Whatever."

"Milord!" Wuoshi wailed. "Please, look my way again with favor! What can I do to win your pleasure again?"

"Well, " Yelinak said. "You can begin by laying off the humans. You're a druid, girl, go forage some vegetables or something! You have a week to lose a ton, or I'm going to be dancing with Trak..."

"Talendor." she corrected.

"Whatever." Yelinak finished.

"Yes, Milord!" Wuoshi said, her voice growing fainter as River heard her thundering miraculously away. "You won't be disappointed!" River could feel some small movement returning to his limbs, but could not yet turn his head to follow her retreat.

"And you," Yelinak said menacingly close to River, "Look at how helpless you are, dragonkiller." He laughed a mightly laugh, which as it went on, it diminished in tone and volume, changing in timbre. Into River's view appeared a familiar dark elven face.

River found he could move his lips.

"Find them, Vven." he croaked horsely. "And thank you."

"On it." Vven said. "Don't...go anywhere."

And then Vven's face disappeared from view.